Long lost Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown gardens revealed in Devon

Lush gardens created by the world’s first and greatest landscape gardener Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown have been revealed in Devon.

The rare seascape by the original and most world-renowned creator and designer of English gardens, sits just 10 miles from Exeter, and is one of only two of his designs across all of Devon and Cornwall still in existence.

Now, in a year where events are taking place across the country to mark the 300th anniversary of his birth, the gardens that Capability Brown shaped some 250 years ago on the eastern slopes of Haldon Hill, overlooking the Exe Estuary and coastline, have been restored and revealed.

Including elegant lines of cedar trees planted as saplings that today frame a horizon-spanning view, a lake built into the side of a hill and parkland sloping down towards the Exe Estuary, the gardens were part of a project which saw a striking and elegant bath house, actually built from Bath stone, created by the famous 18th century neoclassical architect Robert Adams, who transformed a folly, adding a large Italianate dome and side wings.

After a two-year restoration project led by owners Philip and Kara Letts, the Orangery is finally ‘revealing its secrets’.

“It’s special and continues to be a genuine journey of discovery,” said Kara, who moved to Devon with Philip and their three teenage children from London.

“It’s all there in the documents, how what is now called The Orangery was at the heart of this very unusual Capability Brown project around an incredible bath house built for the Newman family.

“It’s not one of his most formal gardens, but is very intimate and one of the very few seascapes he ever worked on. It’s woven into the hillside, with the land completely re-worked in parts, a bit wild in others, and amazingly, a whole slope levelled to create a lake that is actually above the bath house. We’ve found and renewed parts of a stream that took water through the building down to what is now a bog garden, where water is pumped back up to the lake, and discovered a Ha-Ha. No doubt there is more to be uncovered.”

With a small local team, headed by gardener Charlotte Dudley, the Letts have been carefully revealing Capability Brown’s work, whilst adding new plants in keeping with the intimate Mediterranean feel of The Orangery, with its terrace and cascading steps.

Philip, CEO of global technology company blur Group, based at Exeter Science Park, says the project has been a labour of love since the start.

“We fell in love with the place the moment we first came here and saw it. Of course the children adore it and what’s exciting is that it continues to surprise us all. The more we work on this unique estate the more is revealed to us - whether it be hidden species, lost artifacts or collapsed hedge rows.

“Capability Brown’s unique vision was to create an informal but harmonious landscape at The Orangery. The gardens are a revelation. We have the row of ancient cedars that frame this awe-inspiring view, the lake hidden by a horseshoe of birch trees. We’ve added our own style to that, but in a harmonious way.”

Rare breed Badger Face Sheep and Tamworth Pigs, renowned for the quality of their meat, have been introduced on the now working estate, which covers nearly 100-acres of woodland, parkland and fields, and has a medieval church, icehouse and secluded New England style Lakehouse for holiday accommodation, dotted around the grounds.

“We always wanted this to be a working estate. We have to find ways in the 21st century to make these historic estates relevant and sustainable,” adds Philip.

A ‘nature first’ approach to sustainable management of the land and animals is combined with the ongoing sensitive restoration and revitalisation of the land, house and gardens.

Work on the old kitchen gardens is underway, whilst an art studio is being restored. This winter a small stage will be constructed, for intimate estate and corporate events, set in the stunning bowl-like natural arboretum, another feature of the landscape created by Capability Brown.

Bookings at the Lakehouse are now being taken, as are orders of the very first Orangery pork, bacon and lamb, which has just become available through a new online shop www.orangery.life, ready for the Autumn and Christmas.

Kara added: “We always wanted to find ways to open up and share this wonderful place, whether through events, arranged visits, the Lakehouse and the online shop. It’s exciting to be uncovering what has been lost, but it’s just as exciting to think how The Orangery can evolve and thrive, now and into the future, a vibrant and special place back on the West Country map.”